South Korean Scientists Develop Tattoo Health Device

 

South Korean Scientists Develop Tattoo¹ Health Device

South Korean scientists are working on a health device in the form of a tattoo that could alert users to possible health problems.

Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed an electronic ink made of liquid metal and very small tubes of carbon, or carbon nanotubes. The ink works by creating something like an electric circuit on the skin.

When the tattoo is connected to an electrocardiogram device or other biosensor, it can send a patient's heart rate and other important health signs to a monitor.

Steve Park is the leader of the research project. He said, "In the future, what we hope to do is connect a wireless² chip integrated with this ink, so that we can communicate, or we can send signal back and forth³ between our body to an external device."

External device monitors could be located anywhere, including in patients' homes.

The electronic ink is much more comfortable for the user than existing biosensors, Park said. He called it "biocompatible," meaning it does not hurt living tissue.

Park added that the ink can be removed with soap.

The ink is non-invasive and made from particles based on gallium, a soft, silvery metal also used in semiconductors⁴ and in thermometers. The carbon nanotubes help conduct electricity and keep the tattoo on the skin.

Park said, "When it is applied⁵ to the skin, even with rubbing the tattoo doesn't come off, which is not possible with just liquid metal."

Words in This Story

biosensor – n. a device that monitors and transmits information about a life process

monitor – n. a device that shows information or images on a screen

integrate -- v. to combine (two or more things) to form or create something

external -- adj. located, seen, or used on the outside or surface of something

apply -- v. to put or spread (something) on a surface, a part of the body, etc.

搜索

复制

1 tattoo   

n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于

参考例句：

• I've decided to get my tattoo removed.我已经决定去掉我身上的纹身。
• He had a tattoo on the back of his hand.他手背上刺有花纹。

2 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

3 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

4 semiconductors   

n.半导体( semiconductor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Crystals may be insulators, semiconductors, or conductors. 晶体可以是绝缘体，半导体，或导体。 来自辞典例句
• Semiconductors containing such impurities are called p-type semiconductors. 含有这类杂质的半导体叫做P型半导体。 来自辞典例句

5 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。